Tag: Marshall

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Marshall in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, August. 30, 2025.

Gunner Stockton helps No. 5 Georgia trounce Marshall

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ATHENS – Gunner Stockton completed 14 of 24 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 73 yards and two scores on Saturday, helping lead No. 5 Georgia to a 45-7 victory over visiting Marshall in the season opener for both teams.

Dwight Phillips Jr. added 60 rushing yards and a score for the Bulldogs, who outgained the Thundering Herd 488-207 and recorded 26 first downs to Marshall’s seven.

Zion Turner entered for Marshall in the second half, completing 6-of-7 passes for 100 yards, while Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw hauled in three receptions for 58 yards.

After Marshall punted on its opening drive, Georgia’s offense began its season with an eight-play, 70-yard drive, stamped with Phillips’ 17-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 9:22 left in the opening quarter.

Georgia answered Marshall’s second punt with a 72-yard scoring drive — highlighted by Stockton’s 23-yard pass to Zachariah Branch — scoring on Stockton’s 13-yard rush with 2:21 left in the first quarter.

After forcing a third Marshall three-and-out, K.J. Bolden blocked Nathan Totten’s punt, leading to Stockton’s 13-yard rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0 with 9:07 remaining in the first half.

Peyton Woodring’s 43-yard field goal with 24 seconds left in the first half sent the Bulldogs into the locker room with a 24-0 edge.

Branch, a USC transfer, posted his first touchdown of the season on the first drive of the second half on a 47-yard pass from Stockton, giving Georgia a 31-0 lead with 13:13 left in the third.

Georgia tacked with 3:51 remaining in the third, as Stockton found London Humphreys on a 2-yard score, extending the lead to 38-0.

Backup quarterback Ryan Puglisi threw his first career touchdown with 14:18 left in the fourth, connecting with Elyiss Williams from 23 yards out to push the margin to 45 points.

The Thundering Herd cracked the scoreboard on the ensuing drive on Jo’Shon Barbie’s 1-yard rushing score.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Vikings defensive lineman Jim Marshall (70) played for 20 seasons, starting 270 consecutive games. He died after a lengthy hospitalization on Tuesday.

Vikings great Jim Marshall dies at 87

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Minnesota Vikings great Jim Marshall, an ironman who started 270 consecutive games and played 20 seasons, died Tuesday. He was 87.

A defensive lineman on the legendary “Purple People Eaters” front four, Marshall holds the NFL record for most seasons played by a defender. He started 270 consecutive games for the Vikings from 1961-79.

“The entire Minnesota Vikings organization is mourning the loss of Jim Marshall,” the Vikings said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “No player in Vikings history lived the ideals of toughness, camaraderie and passion more than the all-time iron man. A cornerstone of the franchise from the beginning, Captain Jim’s unmatched durability and quiet leadership earned the respect of teammates and opponents throughout his 20-year career. Jim led by example, and there was no finer example for others to follow. His impact on the Vikings was felt long after he left the field. Jim will always be remembered as a tremendous player and person. Our hearts are with his wife, Susan, and all of Jim’s loved ones.”

Marshall’s No. 70 was retired by the Vikings. He is credited with 130.5 sacks — tied for 22nd since the league made sacks an official statistic in 1960 — and 30 fumble recoveries. That includes the infamous “he’s going the wrong way” scoop of a Billy Kilmer fumble before he sprinted 66 yards and unwittingly ended in his own end zone resulting in a safety for the 49ers.

A constant on a defense that included Pro Football Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller, Marshall played at Ohio State and was drafted by Cleveland.

He was acquired from the Browns one year after the Minnesota franchise was established in 1960. At the time of his retirement in 1979, Marshall had played in every game in the history of the team.

He was part of the 1969 NFL Championship team and played in all four of the Vikings’ Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s.

Selected to two Pro Bowls (1968, 1969), Marshall was a second-team All-Pro three times (1964, 1968-69).

–Field Level Media

Sept. 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back A.J. Turner (5) is pursued by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Hero Kanu (93) during the first half of an NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

Marshall fined $100K by Sun Belt for pulling out of bowl game

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Marshall’s decision to opt out of December’s Independence Bowl against Army is turning out to be a costly one.

The Sun Belt Conference issued the school a $100,000 fine for not participating in the Dec. 28 contest, which Marshall said was due to a loss of more than 25 players to the transfer portal.

The exodus was in part due to the departure of head coach Charles Huff, who took the head coaching job at Southern Miss after the Thundering Herd won the Sun Belt title with a 31-3 win over Louisiana.

In a statement released Friday, the conference expressed some understanding of Marshall’s decision but ultimately called the move “detrimental” to the Sun Belt and others affected by the decision.

“While the conference acknowledges the medical model and best practice guidance adhered to by Marshall, as well as their fundamental concern for the health and safety of the remaining eligible student-athletes to compete in a safe and viable manner,” the statement said, “the nature and timing of this decision was detrimental to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership, to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN.”

The Independence Bowl went on with Louisiana Tech replacing Marshall based on the NCAA’s APR score. Army knocked off the Bulldogs 27-6 to complete a 12-2 season.

Marshall ended its season with a 10-3 record.

–Field Level Media

Sept. 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Ethan Payne (28) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA Division I football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

Reports: Marshall pulls out of Independence Bowl game vs. Army

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The Marshall football team opted out of the playing Army in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 28 because of losing players in the transfer portal, according to multiple media reports on Saturday.

The Thundering Herd went 10-3 and defeated Louisiana 31-3 in the Sun Belt Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Head coach Charles Huff left the program one day later to accept the same position at Southern Miss, a fellow league member.

At least 29 Marshall players have entered the transfer portal since Dec. 8, according to 247Sports.

No. 19 Army, the American Athletic Conference champion, was 11-1 going into Saturday’s annual rivalry game against Navy, followed by the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

As no other six-win teams are available to replace Marshall, teams with five wins are eligible based on their Academic Progress Rate.

Thundering Herd associate head coach Telly Lockette was designated to lead the team in the bowl game, with the university hiring North Carolina State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson as the new head coach.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) warms up before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Raiders activate Aidan O’Connell, place Gardner Minshew on IR

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The Las Vegas Raiders activated Aidan O’Connell from injured reserve Thursday and placed fellow quarterback Gardner Minshew and cornerback Jakorian Bennett on IR.

The Raiders also signed wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and activated running back Sincere McCormick and cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly.

O’Connell had been sidelined since injuring his thumb in Las Vegas’ 20-15 setback to the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 20. He will start for the Raiders (2-9) on Friday when they face Patrick Mahomes and the host Kansas City Chiefs (10-1).

The Raiders lost starter Minshew for the season to a broken collarbone in the team’s 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

O’Connell, 26, returned to practice on Monday and received first-team reps. He has completed 52 of 82 passes for 455 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in four games (two starts) this season.

He threw for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games (10 starts) as a rookie last season. He was selected by Las Vegas in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Bennett, 24, has 26 tackles in 10 games (seven starts) this season.

Marshall, 24, has played in one game with Las Vegas this season. He has 64 catches for 767 yards and one touchdown in 37 games (16 starts) with the Carolina Panthers.

McCormick, 24, has rushed five times for 33 yards in two games this season.

Kelly, 23, has five tackles in nine career games with four teams.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech uses defense, special teams to top Marshall

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On a day when Virginia Tech celebrated its past, the Hokies relied on an old-school formula, using defense and special teams to down Marshall 31-14 in Blacksburg, Va., on Saturday.

Jaylin Lane returned a punt for a touchdown and Virginia Tech (1-1) held Marshall to 278 yards of total offense and 12 first downs while paying tribute to its 1999 team that played in the BCS National Championship Game.

Bhayshul Tuten had 22 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Kyron Drones ran for a touchdown and threw for another as Virginia Tech avenged last season’s 24-17 loss to the Thundering Herd.

Drones completed 14 of 21 passes for 130 yards.

Marshall (1-1) sputtered on offense throughout the contest. Stone Earle completed 13 of 36 passes for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The lone offensive spark for the Thundering Herd came from A.J. Turner, whose 69-yard run in the third quarter set up an 18-yard touchdown pass from Earle to Christian Fitzpatrick.

In a first half in which there were 13 punts, both teams scored a touchdown thanks to special teams.

Lane gave Virginia Tech a 7-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter when he caught a short punt on the run in heavy traffic, burst into the clear and then split a second wave of defenders on his way to a 58-yard touchdown.

After the Hokies took a 10-0 lead on a 42-yard field goal by John Love, Ahmere Foster gave Marshall a much-needed lift with a blocked punt that gave the Thundering Herd possession at the Hokies 5, leading to a 2-yard touchdown run by Ethan Payne with 3:19 left in the second quarter.

After leading 10-7 at the break, Virginia Tech thrived thanks to a run-heavy game plan, and it scored on its first three possessions of the second half.

Of his 21 passes on the day, Drones threw only five in the second half but completed them all for 88 yards.

Tuten scored on a 1-yard run with 8:02 remaining in the third quarter, putting the Hokies up 17-7.

Drones then helped set up his own 3-yard scoring run in the third quarter with a 49-yard completion to Stephen Gosnell, who made a diving, over-the-shoulder catch.

Drones completed the scoring early in the fourth quarter with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Da’Quan Felton. Mansoor Delane set up the score with an interception.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones (1) pitches the ball to running back Jamoni Jones (33) against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech hosts Marshall, looks to forget Week 1 loss

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Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” will pulsate again through a bouncing sellout crowd Saturday before Virginia Tech plays its home opener against Marshall.

The song has blared at Lane Stadium for the past 24 seasons.

But there is an undertone of discontent in Blacksburg, Va., as the Hokies (0-1) are coming off a 34-27 overtime loss at perennial Southeastern Conference doormat Vanderbilt.

It was a sour note on which to open a season of high expectations. With a roster loaded with returning players from a 7-6 team, the Hokies were nearly ranked in the preseason, finishing second among “others receiving votes” in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.

But the pratfall in Nashville brings Virginia Tech’s record under Brent Pry to 10-15. And now the third-year coach is feeling more heat as he faces a Marshall team (1-0) that handed him a 24-17 loss last September.

“We understand the expectations,” Pry said Tuesday. “We’re certainly disappointed. What we can do is invest and get better and learn from it and have a heck of a week and go be a better team this Saturday.”

This is a different Marshall team from the one that upset Virginia Tech last season. Quarterback Cam Fancher has transferred to Florida Atlantic, and running back Rasheen Ali, who torched the Hokies for 174 yards and two touchdowns last year, now plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Marshall is coming off a 45-3 walkover at home last week against Stony Brook, an FCS team that was winless last year. The Thundering Herd used three quarterbacks, with each throwing at least one touchdown pass. The last time Marshall accomplished that feat was in 1932.

Stone Earle, a transfer from North Texas who started on Saturday, and Braylon Braxton, a transfer from Tulsa, threw two touchdown passes each, while Cole Pennington, the son of former Marshall star quarterback Chad Pennington, had another scoring toss.

On Tuesday, Marshall coach Charles Huff, who led the Thundering Herd to a 6-7 mark last season, was not letting on who would start against Virginia Tech.

“I don’t know because their numbers are almost identical,” Huff said.

Virginia Tech will look to start fast after falling behind 17-0 at Vanderbilt. Kyron Drones threw an early interception but rallied the Hokies, finishing with 22 completions in 33 attempts for 322 yards and two touchdowns.

“It’s been four years since a group-of-5 school has gone to Lane Stadium and won,” Huff said of Liberty’s 38-35 win in Blacksburg in 2020. “So this is a daunting task.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 30, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; National running back Rasheen Ali of Marshall (22) runs the ball during practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Marshall RB Rasheen Ali (biceps) pulls out of Senior Bowl

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Marshall running back Rasheen Ali has pulled out of the Senior Bowl after rupturing a biceps tendon in practice, NFL Network reported Thursday.

The two-time 1,000-yard rusher for the Thundering Herd faces a recovery time of four to six months following surgery, according to the report.

The timeline means Ali will miss the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine from Feb. 29-March 3 in Indianapolis.

He had been projected as a mid- to late-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft scheduled for April 25-27 in Detroit.

The Senior Bowl takes place Saturday in Mobile, Ala.

Ali rushed for 2,831 yards and 39 touchdowns and caught 75 passes for 557 yards and three scores over his four seasons at Marshall. He rushed for 1,401 yards and 23 TDs in 2021 and for 1,135 yards and 15 scores in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Nov 24, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; UTSA Roadrunners quarterback Frank Harris (0) throws a pass during the first half against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

A Frisco Bowl win would carry extra meaning for Marshall, UTSA

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Marshall had to survive a five-game losing streak in order to clinch bowl eligibility, but the Thundering Herd aren’t through the adversity just yet.

The program will turn to redshirt freshman quarterback Cole Pennington when Marshall takes on UTSA in the Frisco Bowl on Tuesday in Frisco, Texas.

Marshall (6-6) ended its skid by winning two of its last three games, including a 35-21 triumph over Arkansas State in the regular-season finale, to reach the important six-win plateau.

Starting quarterback Cam Fancher finished his season with 2,162 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and four rushing scores before entering the transfer portal. Marshall coach Charles Huff told a local TV station that Fancher’s decision didn’t surprise him since “there isn’t a lot of money for NIL (at Marshall) and the fans hate him. The kid has been miserable.”

Huff received blowback for the comments, including from Fancher’s mother.

“I was asked a question by a reporter and I inserted my opinion over facts about a situation, which ultimately created a little bit of a sandstorm,” Huff said. “It was truly based on my opinion of a small minority of fans, and I actually generalized the entire fan base. That was wrong. I take full responsibility for that.”

Fans may have been rankled by the coach’s faux pas, but now they will get to root for the son of a program legend. Pennington’s father is Chad Pennington, who parlayed a decorated career at Marshall into a long NFL career.

However, Cole Pennington had a 0-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio in three games filling in for Fancher this season.

“Bowl games are special in themselves,” Pennington said. “They’re just a great way to extend your time with the guys that you built a culture with and a chemistry with the whole season.”

Marshall’s weapons of note are running back Rasheen Ali (1,043 yards, 14 touchdowns) and Jayden Harrison, who has two kick return touchdowns and an FBS-high 31.9 yards per return.

UTSA (8-4) is heading to its fourth straight bowl game under coach Jeff Traylor, but the Roadrunners have yet to win one in the program’s brief FBS history.

The bowl appearance streak includes a trip to the 2021 Frisco Bowl, where No. 24 San Diego State beat UTSA 38-24.

“It’s important for us,” Traylor said. “There’s only a few things left in this program that we haven’t done, and this is one of those things we haven’t done, so for us it takes on a level of importance that’s probably more than most programs.”

UTSA made the move to the American Athletic Conference this season and found immediate success, winning seven straight conference games before a 29-16 loss to Tulane in the regular-season finale.

The Roadrunners offense relies on a pair of first-team All-AAC players, quarterback Frank Harris (2,506 passing yards, 323 rushing yards, 22 combined touchdowns, eight interceptions) and wide receiver Joshua Cephus (82 receptions, 1,049 yards, nine TDs).

“It’s my last (game), you know?” Cephus said. “I’ve been here all my time in college. I can’t miss an opportunity to go out and play with my teammates again. I’ll never have a chance to play college football again, so I’m trying to go out with a bang.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback MJ Morris (7) throws a pass during the first half against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

QB MJ Morris settles down, leads NC State past Marshall

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MJ Morris overcame a shaky opening stretch in his first start of the season to throw four touchdown passes and help host North Carolina State to a 48-41 victory against previously undefeated Marshall on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Two of the scoring throws went to Kevin Concepcion, and the Wolfpack took control by scoring 13 straight points to begin the fourth quarter.

NC State (4-2) turned to Morris in the first-string role after the offense wasn’t clicking with graduate transfer Brennan Armstrong. Morris was 17-for-32 for 265 yards with three interceptions, while Concepcion made eight catches for 102 yards.

Marshall quarterback Cam Fancher ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more. He ended up with 315 yards on 29-for-51 passing with an interception.

The Thundering Herd (4-1) went three possessions in a row without scoring in the second half. But after breaking that drought on Fancher’s 16-yard TD pass to Caleb Coombs, Marshall got a final possession with 51 seconds to play at its own 3-yard line and didn’t pick up a first down.

Marshall took its final lead in the third quarter when Morris connected with Trent Pennix on a 62-yard scoring pass for 35-31 with 6:43 left.

Michael Allen ran 37 yards for the Wolfpack to begin the second-half scoring for a 28-24 advantage. That came following Marshall’s failed fourth-down play from the NC State 31.

Marshall was back ahead 31-28 on Fancher’s 28-yard pass play to Jayden Harrison with 7:31 left in the third quarter.

NC State’s Brayden Narveson kicked fourth-quarter field goals from 40 and 27 yards.

Morris threw interceptions on two of his first five passes, one of those returned 27 yards by Josh Moten for a touchdown. Morris was 1-for-6 at one point before getting into a better groove.

Fancher’s second touchdown run came from 4 yards out to put the Thundering Herd ahead 24-21 with 31 seconds to play in the first half.

Marshall scored first on Fancher’s 7-yard run to cap its second possession. That came after Morris’ first interception.

The Wolfpack countered when Morris threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Concepcion. The Thundering Herd was back in front on Moten’s interception return.

Delbert Mimms III scored on an 18-yard run for NC State to tie the game at 14 with 11:43 left in the second quarter.

–Field Level Media